Chicago and Minneapolis (November 18, 2015) – This past September, eight CIOs from some of the nation’s leading healthcare organizations convened at the annual Scottsdale Institute Fall CIO Summit to discuss the most important IT related challenges their health systems are facing and the strategies to position their organizations for success over the next year. The Summit was hosted by the Scottsdale Institute, a not-for-profit membership organization of health systems advanced in IT, and sponsored by Impact Advisors, a leading provider of healthcare information technology consulting services. The conversations and key findings from the Summit are outlined in the report, “The New World of the Health System CIO: Consumers, Consolidation and Crooks.”

“We are pleased to continue to bring the nation’s leading CIOs together to discuss challenges that affect their health systems,” said Shelli Williamson, Executive Director of Scottsdale Institute. “We know that now, more than ever, their leadership, time and focus will be instrumental in the success of their organization.”

The CIOs in attendance included:

David Bensema, MD – Baptist Health Kentucky

Kyle Johnson – Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems

Jonathan Manis – Sutter Health

Bill Russell – Saint Joseph Health System

Bruce Smith – Advocate Health Care

Subra Sripada – Beaumont Health

Jim Veline – Avera Health

Laishy Williams-Carlson – Bon Secours Health System

The group identified five challenges that are consuming a majority of their time and creating the most angst. Those challenges include new payment models; optimization; mergers and acquisitions; security and competing for and retaining patients and consumers. The CIOs also identified key focus areas and strategies to help address those challenges. The group concluded that leadership skills, taking risks and innovation will be crucial to the success of their health systems over the coming years and beyond.

“Most, if not all, organizations today are facing growing information technology needs in the face of shrinking margins,” said Andy Smith, President and Co-Founder of Impact Advisors. “We are confident that the priorities and focus areas this group identified for the coming year will be useful for all CIOs facing similar challenges.”

A copy of the report, “The New World of the Health System CIO: Consumers, Consolidation and Crooks,” is downloadable for free at www.impact-advisors.com and at www.scottsdaleinstitute.org. Dr. Tonya Edwards, Physician Executive at Impact Advisors, prepared the report on behalf of Scottsdale Institute and Impact Advisors.

About Impact Advisors, LLC

Impact Advisors, a distinguished healthcare information technology consulting firm, improves its clients’ healthcare delivery through technology. As a trusted healthcare leader, the firm helps hospitals and health systems maximize clinical and operational performance with its Best in KLAS® strategic advisory, implementation and optimization services. Since its inception, Impact Advisors has consulted to more than 140 hospitals and health systems nationally and internationally. The firm has earned a number of industry and workplace quality awards including Best in KLAS® for seven consecutive years, Healthcare Informatics HCI 100, Crain’s Chicago Business Fast Fifty and Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work. For more information about Impact Advisors, visit www.impact-advisors.com.

About Scottsdale Institute

The Scottsdale Institute (SI) is a not-for-profit membership organization of prominent healthcare systems whose goal is to support its members on their journey to clinical integration and transformation through information technology. SI facilitates knowledge sharing among an exclusive group of senior executives as well as among their teams across the enterprise. We provide intimate and informal forums that accomplish this goal through collaboration, education & networking. For more information visitwww.scottsdaleinstitute.org.